Applied AI2 min overview

A simpler starting point for enterprise AI

Choose a clear, useful workflow before reaching for an autonomous agent.

A reading guide to an article by Erik S. and Barry ZhangAnthropic

A prompt chaining workflow with intermediate checks

The idea in plain language

An AI project is easier to assess when everyone can name the job it should do. Anthropic’s engineering article distinguishes predictable workflows from agents that choose their own steps, and explains when each approach is useful.

Start with the simplest approach that can handle the task.
Use a defined workflow when the steps are known; consider an agent when the path needs to adapt.
Add complexity only when evaluation shows a useful improvement.

What it could look like at work

For example, a support team could begin with a draft shift handover that someone reviews. Compare the time needed to prepare and check it with the current process. This is an illustrative starting point, not a case study.

Go a little deeper

The original was published in December 2024. Its workflow principles remain the focus of this reading guide; the publisher notes that its tooling has since changed.

Original article: Building effective agents.